Regenerative effect of platelet-rich plasma in the murine ischemic limbs

Aims: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of PPRP (pure PRP) and LPRP (PRP with leukocytes) on recovery from limb ischemia and on expression of growth factors involved in angiogenesis, myogenesis and fibrogenesis.

Material and methods: PPRP and LPRP prepared by centrifugation were added to cultures of C2C12 and NIH3T3 cells (1 or 10% PRPs) to evaluate alterations in cell metabolism and expression of growth factors by MTT, ELISA and RT-qPCR, respectively. To evaluate in vivo regenerative effects, PRPs were injected into the ischemic limbs of BALB/c mice and muscle mass/strength and histomorphometry were evaluated after 30 days.

Key findings: Mice treated with PRPs after limb ischemia showed an increase in the size of myofibers and muscle strength, reduced fibrosis and adipocytes, and decreased capillary density and necrosis scores compared to untreated mice. In cell culture, serum deprivation reduced the viability of C2C12 and NIH3T3 cells to about 50%, but the addition of 1% PRPs completely recovered this loss. Both PRPs, downregulated most of the tested genes; however, angiogenic gene Vegfa in C2C12 and the fibrogenic genes Col1a1 and Col3a1 in NIH3T3 cells were upregulated by LPRP.

Significance: PPRP and LPRP had similar effects in regulation of genes involved in angiogenesis, myogenesis and fibrogenesis. However, the presence of leucocytes did not significantly affect regenerative activities of PRP in the ischemic limb.